Gyroscopic top



NOV. 29, 1966 w, FRANGQS 3,287,846

GYROSCOPIC TOP Filed Aug. 19, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 \jy l 6. 3A

INVENTOR.

EVERETT W. FRANGOS BY WM 1 M w ATTORNEYS N 96 w E. w. FRANGOS 3,287,846

v GYROSCOPIC TOP Filed Aug. 19, 1963 5 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR.

EVERETT W. FRANGOS We: 1* WW ATTORNEYS Nov. 29, 1966 E. w. FRANGOS 3,287,846

GYROSCOPIC TOP Filed Aug. 19, 1963 5 Shee ins-Sheet 5 F l INVENTOR.

F 9 EVERETT W. FRANGOS W m 7 MW ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,287,846 GYROSCOPIC TOP Everett W. Frangos, 96 Euclid Ave., Lynn, Mass. Filed Aug. 19, 1963, Ser. No. 302,872 6 Claims. (Cl. 4650) The tops shown in the above patents employ a pair of rotor sectors mounted in spaced relation on a central axle and are adapted to be set into rotation by means of a cord wound about the axle in one instance, and rotated in opposite directions by opposed cords attached thereto in another instance. Different types of attachments are provided to support the tops in various positions and to permit various gyro movements.

The present invention has for its object the providing of improvements in gyroscopic tops.

Another object of this invention is to provide a versatile gyroscopic top which may produce a variety of gyroscopic actions in addition to the conventional bandalore gyrations.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved hearing about which the top is rotated and an axle gripping arrangement of new and improved construction.

More particularly this invention features a bandalore type gyroscopic top mounted for rotation about a central axle and having hubs or gripping elements on the outer ends of the axle whereby the device may be held and set into rotation by means of the cord wound about the rotor member. According to the invention, the finger gripping elements are countersunk into the sidewalls of the rotor to eliminate snagging of the cord when it is being wound about the rotor and when the top is being put through various gyrations. As another feature of this invention, the axle is supported on bearings of very low friction and of simple, inexpensive construction.

This invention also features a novel slot configuration formed in one of the hubs whereby the device may be detachably supported on the end of the cord at various attitudes of rotation. The invention also features a novel housing in which the device may be mounted for additional gyro effects.

But these and other features of the invention, along with further objects and advantages thereof, will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description of the invention with reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1 and 1A are perspective views illustrating the manner in which the device may be held when imparting a rotary motion thereto and subsequently balanced,

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the device,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view in side elevation,

FIG. 3A is a fragmentary section of FIG. 3 and on an enlarged scale,

FIG. 4 is a view in perspective showing the top balanced on the end of a pencil,

FIGS. 5 and 5A are views similar to FIG. 3A but showing modifications thereof,

FIG. 6 is atop plan view corresponding to the modification of FIG. 5,

FIGS. 7, 8 and 11 are end elevations partly in section showing several modifications of housings in which the top may be mounted,

FIGS. 9 and 10 show the top of FIGS. 5 and 6 in use as a gyroscopic bandalore,

FIGS. 12 and 13 show typical applications of the device of FIG. 11.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 3A of the drawings, the reference character 10 generally indicates a bandalore type top having a pair of rotor sections 12 and 14 mounted on a sleeve 16 and spaced from one another by means of a shoulder 18 formed integral with the sleeve. The spacing from the shoulder provides an annular recess 20 to accommodate a cord 22 which is wound about the shoulder between the rotor halves. The rotor may be fabricated from a high impact plastic material, wood or other suitable material and the sleeve from cold rolled steel, for example.

Extending co-axially through the tube 16 is a cylindrical axle or spindle 24 preferably of hard ground steel .032".O" in diameter. The spindle is supported by means of bearings 26 which are press fitted into opposite ends of the sleeve 16. Preferably, the bearings are fabricated from brass or other suitable material and each is formed with an enlarged hemispherical head 28 mounted over the outer ends of the sleeve. Each bearing is formed with a reduced opening which provides the bearing surface for the spindle. In practice the clearance between the bearing and the spindle is on the order of .O01.003" and the length of the bearing surface preferably is about the same as the diameter of the spindle; that is, .032.055". The remaining portion of the bearing opening is enlarged and does not contact the spindle.

Press fitted onto opposite ends of the spindle are hubs 3t) and 32 which are elliptical in cross-section and have at least half of their inner portions disposed within countersinkings 34 of similar contour formed in the rotors 12 and 14 and about the bearings 26. The inner ends of the hubs are in light contact with the rounded heads 28 of the bearings as best shown in FIG. 3A. It will be noted in FIG. 3 that while the hub 30 has a smooth outer surface, the hub 32 is formed with a countersinking 36 centrally in its outer surface for reasons that will presently appear. Typically the hubs 30 and 32 may be formed from a plastic material such as nylon, Teflon or the like.

By forming the hubs 30 and 32 with elliptical crosssections and setting them within the countersinkings 34 so that at least their inner half portions are within the countersinkings their peripheries are at least even with or below the outer surface of the rotors 12 and 14. With this construction it is virtually impossible for the cord 22 to accidentally snag on and become wound around a bearing hub or axle when gyrvating the top or should the user inadvertently miss the recess 24 when winding the cord.

In practice, if the top is to be used free of the cord, the cord is wound about the shoulder 18 without tying it thereto. When the cord is fully wound, the top is held in the manner suggested in FIG. 1 by gripping the hubs 30 and 32 between the thumb and forefinger and yanking on the cord 22. The rotational movement imparted to the top will cause the rotors 12 and 14 to rotate as a u about the spindle 24 which will remain stationary. The cord will pull loose from the top and the top may be set on either hub for a gyroscopic demonstration. If the top is set on the smooth hub 30, it will remain stationary where as if it is set on the hub 32 the countersinking 36 will cause the top to move about on any flat supporting surface. Alternatively, the top may be balanced on a pointed object such as a pencil or the like by inserting the tip into the countersinking 36.

In FIGS. and 6 there is illustrated a further modification of the invention and in this embodiment hubs 94 are press fitted into opposite ends of a spindle 96 which passes through and is supported by means of a sleeve 100 press fitted within an axial opening formed through a rotor 98. As best shown in FIG. 5 the outer ends of the sleeve are crimped at 102 to provide a simple, low-cost, self-aligning bearing arrangement.

In the modified construction of FIGS. 5 and 6 a hub 94 is formed with a pair of arcuate slots 104 located on the outer exposed portion of the hub and joined by means of a diametrical slot 106. A countersunk hole 108 is formed in the center of the hub through the slot 106. The hub slots are employed as a means for detachably connecting the looped end of a cord 110 in order to produce unusual gyro actions with the top. As suggested in FIGS. 9 and 10 the loop end of the cord is connected to the hub by laying a portion of it in the diametrical slot 106 with adjoining portions laid into opposing legs of each arcuate slot 104. The cord is then tensioned and the remaining portion, save for the free end thereof, is carried over the outside of the rotor and wound about the annular groove in the usual fashion. The top may then :be released by looping the free end of the cord over a finger and spinning the top away from the hand. If the top is released the cord will unwind and the top will start spinning. At the end of its travel the wound part of the cord will come free from the annular groove and the top will be attached to the end of the cord only by means of the slotted hub as suggested in FIGS. 9 and 10. It will be appreciated that various attitudes of rotation may be adopted depending upon the direction in which the top is released. Also, the top may be lowered onto a supporting surface in a manner suggested in FIG. 10 and, by loosening the tension on the cord, the looped end thereof may be detached while the top is still spinning.

In addition, the transverse slot 106 may be employed to balance the top on a tensioned cord extending more or less horizontally.

In the modification of FIG. 5A the spindle 96a is rotatably supported by means of a bearing 100a in the form of a tube open at its inner end and at its outer end terminating in a hemispherical head axially drilled to receive the spindle. This construction is extremely simple and rugged in addition to providing'an efiicient low friction bearing. Typically, the bearing 100a may be formed from steel or other suitable material.

In FIGS. 7 and 8 detachable outer shells are shown mounting a top of the sort described. In FIG. 7 a shell 111 is formed into half sections which are connected either by a snapping connection or by means of mating threads formed along opposing edges. Preferably, the shell is fabricated from a slightly resilient plastic material. Each shell half is characterized by a central boss 112 which is formed with a concave inner end 113 to engage the hubs and 32. The rotor will be seen to be spaced from the walls of the shell so that the top may be freely rotated. In practice, the rotor is wound with a cord in the usual fashion and placed within the shell. The shell halves are then secured to one another with the free end of the cord extending out through a shell opening 116 for pulling. This will start the top rotating within the shell to produce gyro action. In FIG. 8 a spherical outer shell 118 is provided and is formed with the same general construction as the FIG.

4 7 embodiment. In this instance bosses 120 are of somewhat greater length than the bosses 112 of the FIG. 7 embodiment.

In the modification shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a shell 120 has a shape similar to the shell 111 of FIG. 7 but in this embodiment bosses 122 and 124 are formed on either side of the shell with the boss 124 being countersunk to permit the assembly to be balanced on a point if desired.

In FIG. 12 the device is shown in use as a bandalore, and it will be understood that the outer shell 120 will not rotate but will move up and down the cord to produce an unusual effect. The form of the outer shell might be modified into the shape of a rocket, bird, satellite or monkey, for example, for further interesting effects.

Alternatively a device such as a toy bird 140, as shown in FIG. 13 may be attached to the end of the cord passing out through the opening in the shell 120. In this configuration, the shell 120 and its enclosed top may be of reduced size. It will be appreciated that the toy bird may be made to rise and fall in a life-like manner by merely giving the cord an initial pull. As the bird moves downward, the cord will unwind until it reaches its end. The bird will then rise upwardly as the momentum of the top causes the cord to rewind into a shell 120.

The invention described herein is of simple, yet rugged and low-cost construction and provides a gyroscopic top which is easy to operate and can be employed to produce a variety of gyroscopic motions and demonstrations in addition to the conventional bandalore type gyration. Also, the top may be easily wound and gyrated without the cord becoming snagged about the hub or axles. Furthermore, the bearing arrangements provide smooth and trouble free operation with an optional control over top rotation. Many unusual and interesting experiments may be performed with the top.

While the invention has been described with particular reference to the illustrated embodiments, it will be understood that numerous modifications thereto will appear to those skilled in the art. It will also be understood that the above description and accompanying drawings should be taken as illustrative of the invention and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to obtain by Letters Patent of the United States is:

y 1. A gyroscopic top, comprising a rotor, a spindle said bearing having a convex head portion engaging the inner end of said hub.

22. A gyroscopic top according to claim 1 wherein the bearing surface engaging said spindle has an axial length substantially equal to the diameter of said spindle.

3. A gyroscopic top according to claim 1 in combination with a detachable outer shell, said shell comprising a pair of domed sections circumferentially connected and formed with an opening to accommodate a cord wound about said top, said shell being formed with inwardly extending bosses adapted to support said top by engagement with said hubs.

4. A gyroscopic top according to claim 3 in combination with a toy object attached to the free end of said cord.

5. A gyroscopic top according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said hubs is formed with an outwardly facing conical recess at the axis of said hub.

6. A top according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said hubs is formed with an outwardly facing axial recess, said hub being further formed with at least one arcuate slot on either side of said recess, said hub being also formed with a diametrical slot extending to said arcuate slots and to said recess, said recess and slots being adapted to detachably connect said top to the looped end of a cord laid into said slots.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner.

R. F. CUTTING, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A GYROSCOPIC TOP, COMPRISING A ROTOR, A SPINDLE ROTATABLY SUPPORTING SAID ROTOR, A HUB MOUNTED ON EACH END OF SAID SPINDLE, EACH OF SAID HUBS BEING CONVEX AT LEAST ON THE END FACING SAID SPINDLE, SAID ROTOR BEING FORMED WITH A COUNTERSINKING ON EACH SIDE THEREOF AND ADJACENT SAID HUBS, SAID COUNTERSINKING BEING OF SUFFICIENT DEPTH TO RECEIVE AT LEAST THE INNER CONVEX ENDS OF SAID HUBS IN RECESSED RELATION TO THE OUTER SURFACES OF SAID ROTOR, SAID ROTOR BEING FORMED WITH AN AXIAL PASSAGE THERETHROUGH, A TUBULAR BEARING MOUNTED ON EACH END OF SAID PASSAGE AND ROTATABLY SUPPORTING SAID SPINDLE, SAID BEARING HAVING A CONVEX HEAD PORTION ENGAGING THE INNER END OF SAID HUB. 